Cultural Study of Nisitha Curni

Author(s): Madhu Sen
Publisher: Sohanlal Jain Dharm Pracharak Samiti Amrutsar

Page 159

MATERIAL CULTURE
139.
night-food, lest it might involve killing insects, or they might. unknowingly accept the prohibited articles like the meatpreparations which could be harmful for them.2 Innumerable rules imposed upon the monks while going on their begginground (gocuri)s also reveal that the monks had to exercise utmost care in accepting the alms.
In spite of these various injunctions, it can be seen that the Jaina monks did accept meat-diet during unusual circums-- tances. It is clearly stated in the text that honey, wine and meat may be taken by the monks under the exceptional circumstances (avavada).4 The author even believes that meateating is better than accepting the food especially prepared for the monks (ahakammiya) or the night-food (addhāņakappa). During such circumstances the monks were to exercise their own judgement keeping in view the regional customs. In those regions where people were not aware of the vegetarian habits of the Jaina monks, the monks were expected to prefer meat-diet (pisita) rather than accepting the night-food or food especially prepared for them. But in the regions. where people were aware of the fact that the Jaina monks were not allowed to take meat, the monks were exhorted to take night-food or food especially prepared for them. Sometimes while passing through the robbers' settlements (teņa palli) with large caravans ( sattha) the monks were forced to
1. NO. 1, p. 141. 2. Ibid. 3. NC. 2, pp. 113-17. 4. AY-
HH-HAT 37aare 7599!—NC. 2, p. 394; see also—NC. 3, p. 136. 5. NC. 1, pp. 148-49. 6. जत्थ साहू णज्जति जहा “मंसं ण खायंति" तत्थ वरं अद्धाणकप्पो, ण पिसियं, जत्थ पुणो
ण णज्जति तत्थ वरं पिसितं, ण णिसिभत्तं, मूलगुणोपघातत्वात् गुरुतरप्रायश्चित्तत्वात्
14NC. 1, p. 149. 7. णाए त्ति जत्थ णज्जति जहा—"एते समणा मंसं ण खायंति" तत्थ सलिंगेण पि सते
DETAIÙ GET hafa, stat ai 34E12 fufhzi_NC. 1, p. 148. Also पिसित्ते त्ति जत्थ गिहत्था जाणंति जहा साहूणं ण वट्टति पिसियं घेत.. भुत्तुच तत्थ जइ Afaatus juefa ETTİ-NG. 1, p. 152.